The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-09-22

shadow OF death might not so early
darken our home, / believed l should
never again allow myself to be moved
by small troubles. I did not have an
opportunity to test my resolution very
soon; for as baby recovered. 1 became
Ill. For many day l lay far beyond
all resolving for the future; almost, in
deed, beyond all hope of any future. so
far as this world is concerned. The
winter had passed before ! won my
way back to life, and began to take up
its cares again one by one.
~ held well to my good resolutions
as rejoiced in being able to oversee
the house cleaning. until l came to the
parlor carpet. The room had been
shut up for months, had not been prop
erly aired and swept. and the moths
had made fearful ravages all around
the edges of the carpet. You'll be as
tonished to hear, Eleanor, that all my
cquanimity broke down at sight of it."
NO." l said. sympathizingly, 81
don't wonder at all. I've known
women that would have been fairly
sick over such thing"
''lt was beautiful carpet. and l had
been very proud of it. Ibid not find
that any thing else had suffered from
neglect through my illness; but forgot
all the other pleasant facts in view of
this distressing one. Even when the
baby crept over it, Growing in delight
at the bright flowers, and trying to
pick them with his chubby little hands,
forgot how much would have given,
not so very long ago, to hear merry
note from him. Well, just as was at
the very elimination of my pet Aunt
Rachel's kindly face beamed upon me
for weeks visit.
"'Thankful to see thee so well. DEAR
was her greeting. The Lord has been
good to thee. Not that I don't mean
that He would have been good if thee
hadn't got we'll
"'Yes, I'm very well now, thank
you. Aunt Rachel. said, after the first
inquiries were over We'll enough.
you see, having got past my great
troubles, to settle down to small wor-
ries. Look there-isn't this enough to
turn the soul of a housekeeper sick?'
'''It is a pity she remarked, view
ing the mischief.
"'Of course some things had to be
neglected while was sick. continued
petulantly; but 1 never dreamed about
| such q thing as this
"'She looked at me with her quiet
eyes, always so full, / used to think, of
the very peace of Heaven.
"'Surely, Ruth. thee isn't going to
make the matter worse by vexing thy
immortal soul over mishap?'
go, it's very well for you to talk
that way, Aunt Rachel I replied.
But I can't afford a new carpet just
now.'
".Thee doesn't need one. The bad
places doesn't show much
"'But / shall always know they are
there, and it will take away all my
peace of mind
"The eyes looked little straighter
into mine as she talked on, something
like this: Thy peace is worth little.
to thee or any one else, if it can be so
easily broken. Ruth Harvey, thee is
starting out in life; beware that thy
disposition to fret thyself about small
things does not prove curse to thee
and thine. Every thought of discomfort
about matters beyond thy control is
not only sin against the God who
orders for thee, but sin against thy
own soul, and an added weight to
every annoyance. If cherished, such
thoughts become a pest of singing
serpents in thy breast. Thee will grow
old and wrinkled and gray before thy
time. Thee will be peevish, complain
ing and fault-fnding. Thee win be a
terror to thy husband and children
YES" continued Mrs Morrison, 'she
said all that and more, She said: Is
one thread of that carpet woven into
thy reai peace of mind? Can it, OF
other sman things. really concern thy
welfare, or that of those dear to thee
either for this world or the nextp'"
: 81 never heard itput quite so strongly
BEFORE" l said thoughtfully, as my
friend paused. "And if / hadn't seer
you, should have said it was very goot
talk indeed. but that no woman coult
live up to it. "
II had week Of it, you see, ,
said Mrs. Morrison. ''When Aun
Rachel went away, one of the las
things she said to me was: Iwant the'
to bear in mind what l said, dear-tha
every fretfu1 thought thee wastes oil
small accidents is only SO much addet
to their burden
II think / took it well to heart, for
concluded. Eleanor, that LIES burden
are heavy enough without any such ad
!. dition. And / will tell you one thins
have Observed" she added, with I
laugh. II do believe that four-fifth
of the women who fret, do it becaus
they think it solemn duty"
"Nonesense!' exclaimed.
''They do" she persisted. ''Yo1
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